1928 newbie, many questions

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kellerk99

New member
It has a very cracked engine block, I see only Burtz blocks so far as an option, and am very confused as to the difference between the 4200 block and the 8000 block.

I would not mind using another engine if it didn't cut anything and make it unrestorable.

I am fairly mechanically adept. Just not with modern cars. My thing was air cooled vw enginges.

I am located South Bay Area Ca. f

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
 
There are still a lot of old model A&B 4-banger motors out there. Model A guys generally have a spare or know someone who does. The Burtz block in kit form would be more affordable than some. Ford also sold the engines as industrial engines which were used in air compressors, saw mills, water pumps, and a multitude of other agricultural & industrial applications. They were made up into the early 1940s just before WWII.
 
If there is an old sawmill in your area, there might be some piece of industrial equipment there that might be powered with model a engine. I visited an old sawmill in Louisiana that had four pieces of equipment with model a engines.
Ed
 
If you are mechanically adept and have worked on VW engines, then you should be able to build up a Burtz block. The instructions that Terry provides are easy to follow and all inclusive.

You do not have to cut anything or modify anything to use the Burtz block. All the parts from your old engine will fit just fine. My only suggestion is to use the Burtz cam, modern valves and lifters, and a high compression head.

There are few things to pay attention to but they are covered in the instructions.

If you are just driving your car to the local ice cream shop, then a used engine that is in good shape should do just fine. But it you plan to go on tours, keep you car until your kids inherit it, and value reliability and performance, then the Burtz is the way to go.
 
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If you are in the San Jose, Mt. View Area, the local Santa Clara Model A club is the big one in the area. They are extremely knowledgeable and will know of someone with a good used engine if you go that route. If you go Burtz they will also know what to do to set it up.
 
This is off topic, but as a newbie, you need to collect a library of reference literature in which there is excellent guidance and answers to many of the questions you will likely ask. I recommend that you obtain:
Ford Parts Price List of July1, 1931;
Ford parts Price List of January 1, 1928;
The Ford Model "A" As Henry Built It;
Model "A" Passenger Car & Model "AA" Truck Engine-Chassis Manual;
Ford Model "A" Service Manual & Owner's Handbook.

I am sure others will chime in with more recommendations of literature.
 
Call Bert's. Bert's Model A Store on line. They can sell you a complete rebuilt Model A engine with insert bearings. Quality work. I have both Berts and Burtz engines in my Model As. For a newbie to Model A's, especially a 1928, Berts complete engine is a better match.
Dan
 
ronn said:
buy an old engine off of FB. 500. and under................
Click to expand...

That will just about guarantee a junk engine that some flipper dragged out of a back yard.
There are 8 MAFCA chapters in the Bay Area. Join one. Contact all of them and let them know you are a new owner with a bad engine and ask if someone in their chapter has a decent running engine for sale. You'll probably find one for the same $500 but it won't be a rusty lump.
BTW - A running Burtz will set you back $10,000 if you build it with all new parts. They've also jacked the price up to $4,200 on the Block Kit and $20-25 on their other parts. Tariff anticipation???
Everyone was right Model As arrive pregnant. We added a Tudor yesterday. Bob Bidonde's advise to get a reference library going is spot on. Your first book should be the Les Andrews red book. Our Tudor came with a pretty good collection.


MAFCA chapters - There may also be some MARC chapters in your area. https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1cGinWhO80PhnqdGhp6pBMrUkaJOooSA&ll=37.70720741879386%2C-121.99298537356341&z=9


The Santa Clara website https://www.scvcma.org/ Check out their newsletter and the classified page. A guy is selling rebuildable blocks for $25
 

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Call Bert's. Bert's Model A Store on line. They can sell you a complete rebuilt Model A engine with insert bearings. Quality work. I have both Berts and Burtz engines in my Model As. For a newbie to Model A's, especially a 1928, Berts complete engine is a better match.
Dan
 
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